BRICS Leaders Call for UN Security Council Reform, Condemn Unilateral Military Actions

BRICS leaders have called for sweeping reforms to multilateral institutions, including “structural changes” to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), while condemning what they described as “unilateral belligerent actions” in the Middle East.

The leaders approved the “New Delhi Declaration” at the 18th BRICS Summit in India’s capital, New Delhi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the core document was adopted unanimously at the summit.

China and Russia, the two permanent members of the UN Security Council participating in the summit, reaffirmed their support for a greater role for countries such as Brazil and India in the United Nations and the Security Council.

The declaration specifically called for restructuring the UN Security Council to give greater representation to developing countries from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The BRICS leaders also emphasized expanding trade among member countries using national or regional currencies instead of the U.S. dollar.

In his closing remarks, Modi said the discussions had made it clear that the changing world could no longer be governed by “fragile institutions built on outdated assumptions.”

“Reforms in representation and decision-making processes in global institutions are therefore extremely important,” Modi said.

He also stressed the need for equal participation by the Global South in shaping future technologies and developing rules for their governance.

“The New Delhi Declaration adopted today provides a clear direction for our collective resolve,” Modi said. “Our main objective now is to turn these proposals into reality and achieve the desired results.”

The BRICS countries also reiterated their support for reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO) and for an open, transparent, fair and rules-based global trading system.

Expressing deep concern over the growing use of unilateral tariffs, the declaration said such measures distort trade and run counter to WTO principles.

The BRICS members said they would work together to strengthen the WTO’s effectiveness in addressing instability in global trade and meeting the needs and priorities of emerging markets and developing economies.

Analysts had earlier warned that divisions among BRICS members over the war involving Iran and the Russia-Ukraine conflict could make it difficult to reach agreement on a joint declaration.

However, the leaders ultimately managed to bridge some of those differences and adopted common positions on issues including military aggression in the Middle East and instability in global trade.